S.B. No. 729
                                        AN ACT
    1-1  relating to designation of the Texas Agricultural Experiment
    1-2  Station as administrator of the United States Bureau of the Census
    1-3  federal-state cooperative programs.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 88, Education Code, is
    1-6  amended by adding Section 88.214 to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 88.214.  ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED STATES BUREAU OF
    1-8  THE CENSUS FEDERAL-STATE COOPERATIVE.  The Texas Agricultural
    1-9  Experiment Station shall serve as the official cognizant
   1-10  administrator for the State of Texas of the United States Bureau of
   1-11  the Census federal-state cooperative program for population
   1-12  estimates and the federal-state cooperative program for population
   1-13  projections and as coordinating agency for the State Data Center
   1-14  program.
   1-15        SECTION 2.  Section 481.182, Government Code, is amended to
   1-16  read as follows:
   1-17        Sec. 481.182.  DUTIES.  The department shall:
   1-18              (1)  establish and maintain a central depository of
   1-19  information, including computer retrievable files, concerning the
   1-20  significant characteristics of the state and its people, economy,
   1-21  land, and physical characteristics, including information
   1-22  concerning employment opportunities in the state;
   1-23              (2)  analyze the information collected under
    2-1  Subdivision (1) as well as other information and disseminate the
    2-2  information and analyses to state, federal, and local agencies and
    2-3  the public;
    2-4              (3)  <serve as the official cognizant administrator of
    2-5  the United States Bureau of the Census federal state cooperative;>
    2-6              <(4)>  collect information and compile data on the
    2-7  border region for the preparation of specific plans and programs
    2-8  for the border region;
    2-9              (4) <(5)>  adopt procedures to ensure the greatest use
   2-10  by and exchange among state agencies of data bases and statistical
   2-11  and analytical models created by or belonging to the state;
   2-12              (5) <(6)>  assist institutions of elementary,
   2-13  secondary, and higher education to develop and expand programs of
   2-14  education in international commerce, geography, and language;
   2-15              (6) <(7)>  establish and operate a comprehensive
   2-16  clearinghouse of information relating to small businesses; and
   2-17              (7) <(8)>  develop and maintain a master file of
   2-18  information on small business assistance programs provided by
   2-19  federal, state, and local agencies, educational institutions,
   2-20  chambers of commerce, civic organizations, community development
   2-21  groups, private industry associations, and other organizations and
   2-22  provide comprehensive, timely information to persons seeking that
   2-23  information.
   2-24        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-25  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    3-1  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    3-2  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    3-3  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    3-4  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    3-5  passage, and it is so enacted.